Valveless tube shunts (such as the Baerveldt implant or ClearPath) represent the largest and most powerful family of glaucoma drainage implants.
Powerful Long-Term Efficacy
Like the Ahmed Valve, the implant is made of a tube and a plate, but the surface area of the plate in these surgeries is much larger. Furthermore, because they lack an internal valve mechanism, the tube is completely open and can achieve deep and sustained pressure reduction over many years. The large surface area contributes to a spacious and efficient drainage zone.
Staged Recovery
The absence of a valve requires the surgeon to 'tie off' or temporarily block the tube during surgery with an absorbable suture. The suture dissolves after about a month, and only then does the tube fully open and begin operating at full capacity. During the first month, the patient typically continues to use eye drops until the implant opens automatically.